Caladium plant named ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’, characterized by its intermediate in height and upright to mounding plant habit; dense, leafy and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; lance-type leaves that are dark reddish purple in color with darker-colored venation; first emerging leaves have a metallic sheen; petioles that are close to black in color with pink-colored stripes; and tolerance to full sunlight conditions.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2013 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Toasted Bronze’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘Candy Cane’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate in height and upright to mounding plant habit;         dense, leafy and bushy appearance.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Lance-type leaves that are dark reddish purple in color with         darker-colored venation.     -   4. First emerging leaves have a metallic sheen.     -   5. Petioles that are close to black in color with pink-colored         stripes.     -   6. Tolerant to full sunlight conditions.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Toasted Bronze’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are intetmediate in height whereas         plants of ‘Toasted Bronze’ are short in height.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Toasted Bronze’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are smoother and broader         than leaves of plants of ‘Toasted Bronze’.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark reddish purple         in color with darker-colored venation whereas leaves of plants         of ‘Toasted Bronze’ are reddish bronze in color with         darker-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Candy Cane’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are intetmediate in height whereas         plants of ‘Candy Cane’ are short in height.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Candy Cane’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark reddish purple         in color with darker-colored venation whereas leaves of plants         of ‘Candy Cane’ are greenish white in color variably flushed         with light red with dark red to dark greyed purple-colored         venation and narrow green-colored margins.     -   4. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are close to         black in color with pink-colored stripes whereas leaf petioles         of plants of ‘Candy Cane’ are green in color tinged with tannish         pink.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Burning Heart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,071. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Burning Heart’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are lance types whereas         leaves of plants of ‘Burning Heart’ are fancy types.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker and more         cupped than leaves of plants of ‘Burning Heart’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark reddish purple         in color with darker-colored venation whereas leaves of plants         of ‘Burning Heart’ are bronze red in color with contrasting         salmon orange-colored spots and dark red bronze-colored         venation.     -   4. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are close to         black in color with pink-colored stripes whereas leaf petioles         of plants of ‘Burning Heart’ are tannish green to tannish pink         in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Thai 4’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Thai 4’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are lance types whereas         leaves of plants of ‘Thai 4’ are fancy types.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker and more         cupped than leaves of plants of ‘Thai 4’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark reddish purple         in color with darker-colored venation whereas leaves of plants         of ‘Thai 4’ are green with a dark bronze cast in color with         reddish bronze-colored centers and numerous coral pink-colored         spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ grown in a container that has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is side perspective view of typical plants of the female parent, ‘Toasted Bronze’ (right), ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Candy Cane’ (left).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3 ) is side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Burning Heart’ (left), ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ (center) and ‘Thai 4’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet (FIG. 4 ) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet (FIG. 5 ) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ grown in an open production field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet (FIG. 6 ) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet (FIG. 7 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28C to 33C, night temperatures ranged from about 22C to 25C and light levels were about 1,300 μmol. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29C to 35C, night temperatures ranged from about 23C to 26C and full sunlight conditions. Plants grown in the shade house were seven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were five months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 and 2015 Editions, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Toasted             Bronze’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Candy Cane’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented, clumping and branched             tubers; individual segments are round to ovate in shape.             Height: About 2.9 cm to 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 4.1 cm to             5 cm. Segment height: About 2.6 cm. Segment diameter: About             2.2 cm. Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud             height: About 3.5 mm. Axillary bud width: About 5 mm.             Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm,             freshly-harvested: Close to N199D. Periderm, dried: Close to             200A. Epidermis: Close to 165C becoming closer to 165D with             subsequent development. Cortical tissue: Close to 23C and             23D. Axillary buds: Close to 49C to 49D. Root description:             Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few lateral branches;             color, close to NN155D; actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and fotmulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots. Rooting density: Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded and full sunlight areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height and upright             to mounding plant habit; plants grown from tubers that have             been de-eyed are more mounded than plants grown from tubers             that have not been de-eyed; dense, leafy and bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate;             potted plants finish in saleable form in about six to seven             weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise             from one or more growing points on tubers; leaf petioles             initially upright and leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—When de-eyed, about 23.5 cm to 29             cm; when not de-eyed, about 28 cm to 36 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of floral plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant diameter, shade house-grown potted plants.—When             de-eyed, about 29 cm to 44 cm; when not de-eyed, about 34 cm             to 50 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About one to two develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About seven to nine develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About             4.5 cm to 6 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Shape: Linear             to lanceolate. Apex: Variable, acute to slightly emarginate.             Base: Sheathing the stem. Texture, outer and inner surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, outer surface: Close to 203A or             202A with streaks, close to N170D; color becoming closer to             200A, 200D and/or N200A and may be tinged with close to             N186B with subsequent development. Color, inner surface:             Close to N155B and N155D; distal end may be flushed with             close to 56A; colors and color patterns visible from outer             surface. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—When de-eyed, about             13.5 cm to 17 cm; when not de-eyed, about 17.5 cm to 22.3             cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants.—When de-eyed, about             5 cm to 6.4 cm and flattened, about 10.4 cm to 11.9 cm; when             not de-eyed, about 8 cm to 10 cm and flattened, about 11.5             cm to 15.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate; cupped and somewhat conduplicate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate; cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat to somewhat wavy with broad             undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy             to dull; medium in thickness and somewhat rigid; first             emerged leaves are slightly glaucous and metallic in             appearance.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous and dull in sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted de-eyed plants.—Developing             leaves, upper surface: Background color: Darker than N186C             or close to 187B and 187C; intervenous areas are tinged with             close to N199A. Margins: Close to 183A. Basal notch: Close             to 183C. Midvein and lateral venation: Close to 202A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Background color: Variably             mottled, close to 194A, 194B and 49C flushed with close to             187A. Margins: Similar to background color; edges, close to             49C. Basal notch: Close to 182D and 187A. Midvein and             primary veins: Close to 183A streaked and flecked with close             to 182C; small veins, close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Background color: Close to 183A, 183B, 183C             and 179A. Margins: Similar to background color with random             and variable sectors, close to 147A to 147B. Basal notch:             Close to 183C. Midvein and lateral venation: Close to 202A             and N186A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Background             color: Close to 194B variably tinged, mottled and flushed             with close to 187A and 187B. Margins: Similar to background             color. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midvein and primary             veins: Close to 183A streaked and flecked with close to             182C; small veins, close to 187A.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight, and             somewhat outwardly leaning with development; flexible.             Length, shade house-grown de-eyed potted plants: About 14.5             cm to 22.2 cm. Length, shade house-grown not de-eyed potted             plants: About 16 cm to 27 cm. Diameter, distally, shade             house-grown de-eyed potted plants: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Diameter, distally, shade house-grown not de-eyed potted             plants: About 6 mm to 6.5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade             house-grown de-eyed potted plants: About 6 mm to 8 mm.             Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown not de-eyed potted             plants: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous and glaucous. Color, shade house-grown potted             plants: Close to 203A; may be striped with close to 56D and             N170D and stippled with close to 200B; just below the leaf             junction, close to 203A; may be streaked with close to 185D.             Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants: About 4 cm to             9.5 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown potted plants:             About 6 mm to 12 mm. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull to slightly glossy. Wing             color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer surface: Close             to 203A; streaked and mottled with close to N170D and 56D.             Inner surface: Close to N155B and N155D; center, mottled and             speckled with close to 187A; margins, flushed with close to             N200A and 203A; colors and patterns on the outer surface are             visible on the inner surface. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; jasmine-like with mint/camphor             note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about four weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 13.5 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 8.2 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 5.3 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.7 cm.             Depth, distal open portion: About 2.2 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 1.5 cm. Width, proximal closed portion:             About 2.3 cm. Shape, open portion: Narrowly elliptic to             obovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, front surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen.             Texture and luster, rear surface: Distally, smooth, glabrous             with a dull sheen; proximally, smooth, glabrous, slightly             glaucous. Color, front surface: Distal open portion: Close             to 157B and 145D; with subsequent development, becoming             closer to 199A. Proximal closed portion: Close to 157B;             towards the base, flushed with close to N186D; color does             not change with subsequent development. Color, rear surface:             Distal open portion: Close to 159D and 160D; center, mottled             and streaked with close to 147B, 147C and 147D; color does             not change with subsequent development. Junction: Close to             200A to 200B tinged with close to N186C. Proximal closed             portion: Close to 148C, 177C and 177D variably mottled with             close to 200B, 182D and 187A; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 8.9 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 5.3 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.7 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.9 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 7 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 7 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1.1 mm.             Shape: Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Blunt, rounded. Base:             Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to             155A. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 155D. Color,             mature, female zone: Close to 8D and 155D. Male flowers:             Quantity per spadix: About 386. Shape: Obovate. Height:             About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 11D. Female flowers: Quantity per             spadix: About 220. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Height: About             2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 8D.             Ovary color: Close to 155D.         -   Scapes.—Length: About 12.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect,             straight. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy;             distally, glaucous. Color: Close to 202A and N186A; just             below spathe, close to N186A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and average     tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have     not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens     common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7C to about 40C and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones, tubers     can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool dry     environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘THAI RD OF14-1145’ as illustrated and described. 